Tottenham’s defeat to Norwich on Sunday continued a worrying trend. Nine of Spurs’ last 12 Premier League losses, stretching back to November 2012, have come off the back of Europa League fixtures on the previous Thursday.

A worrying sequence as they chase a top-four finish, Tottenham, under first Andre Villas-Boas and now Tim Sherwood, appear to be proving that the biggest obstacle to qualifying for the Champions League is playing in the Europa League.

Tottenham 3 NK Maribor 1, Man City 2 Tottenham 1 (November 2012)
This appeared as if it was going to be one of those occasions when Spurs were on song after playing in the Europa League as Steven Caulker gave then a 23rd minute lead at Manchester City. But Sergio Aguero equalised after the break before Edin Dzeko sealed a 2-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium with a goal two minutes from time.

Everton’s Steven Pienaar scored against his old club (Picture: AFP/Getty)

Tottenham 3 Panathinaikos 1, Everton 2 Tottenham 1 (December 2012)
This was a heartbreaking affair as Spurs were 1-0 up at Everton until the dying moments when they conceded a couple of injury-time goals from Steven Pienaar and Nikica Jelavic to send them to an agonising 2-1 defeat at Goodison Park.

Dimitar Berbatov found the net again at White hart Lane but it wasn’t popular with Spurs fans (Picture: Getty)

Tottenham 3 Inter Milan 0, Liverpool 3 Tottenham 2 (March 2013)Gareth Bale, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Jan Vertonghen scored in a famous win over the Italians but, with the second leg on AB’s radar, a Vertonghen brace wasn’t enough to avoid defeat at Anfield.

Inter Milan 4 Tottenham 1, Tottenham 0 Fulham 1 (March 2013)Spurs nearly blow a 3-0 first leg lead but reach the semi-finals thanks to an away goal at the San Siro. Those exerting efforts take their toll, however, as they lose 1-0 at home to Fulham the following Sunday and the lacklustre performance costs them a top four finish. Former Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov stabs his old team in the back with the only goal of the game.

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud decided the first north London derby of the season (Picture: AP)

Tottenham 3 Dinamo Tiblisi 0, Arsenal 1 Tottenham 0 (September 2013)
The clash against the Georgians was a stroll but that wasn’t the case when Spurs made the short trip down the Victoria Line to Arsenal and were beaten 1-0 with Olivier Giroud on target as their neighbours lost for the first time this season.

Ravel Morrison was a revelation for West Ham at White Hart Lane (Picture: Getty Images)

Anzhi 0 Tottenham 2, Tottenham 0 West Ham 3 (October 2013)
A great win in Russia in October was followed by a 3-0 defeat at home to West Ham which sent shudders down the spine of Tottenham fans. Ravel Morrison will remember this one as it put him firmly in the limelight.

Tottenham 2 FC Sheriff 1, Tottenham 0 Newcastle 1 (November 2013)
Spurs threw the kitchen sink at Newcastle at White Hart Lane after Loic Remy scored an early goal but were denied time and again by a five-star show from Magpies goalkeeper Tim Krul.

Andre Villas-Boas lost his job as Tottenham manager after a 5-0 home defeat to Liverpool (Picture: AP)

Tottenham 4 Anzhi 1, Tottenham 0 Liverpool 5 (December 2013)
Liverpool were next up and their 5-0 victory at White Hart Lane cost Andre Villas-Boas his job. It was one of the bleakest days to be Spurs fan for a long, long time.

Dnipro 1 Tottenham 0, Norwich 1 Tottenham 0 (February 2014)
A tricky trip to Ukraine – and defeat on a pudding of a pitch – was followed by a 1-0 loss to Norwich City as the Canaries fought for survival, and boss Chris Hughton’s job.

* – The exception to Spurs’ recent run are these three defeats: 5-2 to in November 2012 – straight after the City setback – and home and away to Manchester City this season.